Monitoring older people: An overview of devices responding to significant needs of elderly affected by parkinson’s disease

The average age of people all over the world, especially in the most developed countries is constantly increasing, and with it is growing even the request of assistance and health care for older people. The most diffused pathologies related to the degeneration of the neurological system are the ones related to Dementia, in this article will be considered specifically as users older people affected by Parkinson’s Disease, a pathology that worsens movements and gait. Thanks to the new available technologies, is now possible for designers to imagine new devices that help the person to prolong his autonomous life in the own environment, enhancing his quality of life. The authors elaborated an overview of smart objects that satisfy the needs of older patients affected by Parkinson’s disease, to observe how Design Research is facing the requirements expressed by this users